Residential Care/Nursing Homes

Care Patrol is a FREE senior housing placement service that helps families find independent living, assisted living, memory care and in-home care options. They assess client’s care level needs, financial needs and general preferred locations to recommend the best and safest care options. Their Senior Care Advisors aren’t a voice on the phone during a one-time call. CarePatrol Advisors personally meet with all of their clients to gain a full understanding of your needs – and that is just the beginning. Their Advisors then personally identify the most appropriate communities and accompany each family as they tour. After the tours, they help each family navigate the often-difficult decision-making process. See: http://carepatrol.com or call: New York City: Kevin Barrett: 718-841-7884

Long Island and Metro New York: call Bruce or Sharon Ritter at 516-858-0080

Westchester: Richard Russo: 914-623-0434

A Place for Mom helps families navigate the maze of senior housing options. They are the largest senior living referral service in the U.S. and Canada for FREE. Although their company name focuses on “mom,” they help anyone who is faced with finding the best senior living options for their loved ones. Call: 877-674-8598 or go to: http://www.aplaceformom.com

The following incidents can indicate if it may become necessary to consider long term care at a nursing home for your loved one:

Wandering from home

Making medication errors

Lack of adequate food/fluid

Unsafe or unclean environment

Need for night time supervision

Unable to continue paying for in-home care

Abuse by a caregiver

Signs of significant depression in patient or caregiver

There are several factors to be taken into consideration when making the decision for long term care:

Type of Facility – Many Assisted Living Facilities have “Memory Care” units. These facilities normally do not accept Medicaid or Medicare and can be costly (though possibly less costly than round the clock home care). Most nursing homes accept Medicaid. Medicare will NOT pay for long term care. NOTE: Some Assisted Living Facilities have enhanced licenses for”enhanced assistant living”which means they are able to help patients 1) in a wheelchair, 2) who need a one person assist, 3) help feeding to a degree (handling food on a fork to the person to feed themselves, and 4) help shower

Service History – Research the facility. Does it have a good track record of care for residents and support for families? Is the facility sufficiently staffed? Is there a large turnover in staff? Your long term care ombudsman is a good source of information on specific facilities. Check their New York State Department of Health survey results.

Visit the facility – Is the location convenient or family members to visit? Visiting often is crucial to good care for your loved one. Is the facility clean? Does the staff appear friendly and approachable. Go with your gut, does the facility “feel right”?
Talk to current residents and their families – Ask them about their experiences. If they have had any problems, were they resolved satisfactorily?

Does the facility have a dedicated dementia unit? How is that unit secured? Is the staff familiar with Lewy Body Dementia? Are there activities geared toward this population?

Cost – is it time to consider applying for Medicaid or establishing a trust?

CaringKind offers “an overview of long-term care options, the steps involved in moving a person with dementia to a nursing home, paying for nursing home care, how to ease the transition for both the person and the caregiver, and how to successfully advocate for a nursing home resident.” It’s entitled Placing your Relative in a Nursing Home:http://www.caringkindnyc.org/nursinghome/ or (646) 744-2900.

The Brielle at Seaview, 140 Friendship Lane, Staten Island, NY 10314, Www.thebrielle.com, 929-256-3005, – The Brielle has an enhanced license with NYS for “enhanced assistant living” which means they are able to help patients 1) in a wheelchair, 2) who need a one person assist, 3) help feeding to a degree (handling food on a fork to the person to feed themselves, and 4) help shower.

EXCELLENT MOVING TIPS FOR SENIORS – This list can be very helpful for all:

https://www.yourstoragefinder.com/moving-tips-for-seniors

*Disclaimer* The information on this website and on our Helpline is provided as a resource for LBD caregivers, but it is not intended as an endorsement of any one product or provider, medication or medical procedure, and is not meant as a substitute for any medical or other professional advice.